Table



Algi, 1942 K. w. RoMEYN 2,292,292

imm Filed Aug'. 2i. 1940 2 snetsfsheet 2 lNVENTOR ATTORNEY l UJI Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT O E 'Fl CE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a foldable table or the like and moreparticularly to a'foldable table adapted to be assembled around a post such as the central post of a beach umbrella, although it will be clear that it is adaptedfor use in a wide variety of different places.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of the character described which may be unfolded to form a substantially flat surface, such as a table top, which will be firm and rigid when in place but it may be readily removed and folded into compact space for transportation.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of one form of the device completely folded.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as seen from the right in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device in a partially opened position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device as seen in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the device in full open position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the device as seen in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to a section on the line I-'I of Fig. 5 showing a modification embodying a combined handle and clamp.

Fig. 8 is a detail of a modification.

Figs. 9 and 10 are a detail of a modification of the handle.

In the drawings numerals IIJ and II represent two semi-circular, annular hub members having, when assembled, a central opening I2 to flt around a supporting post, as for example the central post of an umbrella. These two hub members are hinged together by hinges I3, preferably having their axes substantially in the upper face of the hub members II) and II so that the hub members may be folded one over the other. Each of these hub members is rigidly attached to the central or apex portion of a quadrant I5-I6 so that the radial center lines I'I of to be formed. In this manner when the hub members I0 and I I are folded over each other one of the quadrants will be superposed upon the other. Each of these quadrants has lattached at one edge thereof, as by hinges I 8, a, secondary quadrant Iii- 20, the secondary quadrant I9 being hinged to the quadrant I5 and the secondary quadrant 20 being hinged to the quadrant I6. The axis of the hinges I8 lies preferably in the upper face of the quadrant I5 or I6 so that the quadrants I9 and 20 may be folded to lie flat upon the quadrants to which they are hinged. It will be understood that the quadrants I9 and 29 are cut away, as shown at 2I to correspond to and allow for the hub sections.

As will be clearly seen from Fig. 5, there is provided upon the free edge of each of the quadrants I5 and I6 means for engaging the free edge of the quadrants 29 and I9 respectively so that when the secondary quadrants are folded in their at position they will be held in fiat alignment with the primary quadrants I5 and I6.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, this means comprises a pair of -cleats 22 and 23 which are attached to the under-face of the primary quadrants and serve as a rest upon which the free edges of the secondary quadrants may bear.

As a modification, in Fig. 8 there is illustrated an alternative construction in which there is provided a flat shaped hook 24 upon each of one pair of said quadrants in position to engage a pin 25 upon the corresponding one of the other pair, the hook being so designed as to hold the quadrants together in alignment. This construction can be used to make the strips 22-23 unnecessary and thus make the folded table more compact, or it may be used with suitable dowels or grooves, if desired.

Any means may be provided for clamping the hub members around the central post to determine the height of the table and to fold it in place. A practical form of such clamping means, however, is illustrated in Fig. 7 in which there is mounted beneath the hub sections an auxiliary block 2'I having an opening 28 in registry with the central opening of the assembled hub member. This block 2l is firmly attached to the hub member by screws 29. A plate 30 is slidp ably mounted in a recess between the block 21 the quadrants lie upon a diameter of the table and the hub member I6 and carries a depending flange 3| having an opening 32 for the reception of a screw 33 which is firmly attached to the hub section as by means of a depending flange 34. This plate 30 may be provided with a V shaped notch to engage the central post at spaced points, as will be seen from Fig. 9.

A wing nut 35 on the outer end of the screw 33 serves to adjust the position of the Plate 30 relative to the opening 28. In this manner when a supporting post has been inserted through the central opening of the assembled hub and through the block 21 with the plate 30 Withdrawn, the wing nut 35 may be turned to force the plate 30 into engagement with the post to cause the same to bear against the outer side of the opening 28 to clamp the post to avoid the tendency of the plate 30 to cant the table upon l the post. It is desirable to keep the engagement between the post and the plate 3D upon the one side and between the post and the block 21 upon the other side as nearly in horizontal alignment with each other as possible. To avoid the tendency of the pressure of the plate 39 from opening the hinges I3, it is desirable that the pressure exerted by the plate 3E! shall be taken by the block 21 rather than by the hub lportion of the quadrant I5.

For some purposes it may be desirable to construct a table in such a manner that it can be assembled about a fixed post without having to have the end of the post put through the hole. This can be readily accomplished by employing as the hinges I3, hinges of the well known type in which the pin is removable or partly removable sufficiently to release the hinge. This being a well known construction is not illustrated.

When it is desired to employ the detachable feature with the type of clamp illustrated in Fig. 7, this may be readily accomplished, as seen in Fig. l0, by making the opening 28 of the clamp extend outwardly to one side of the clamp rather than as a closed opening, to form a side opening notch 5E). In this manner two of the quadrants I5 and I9 may be separated from the remainder of the table until the quadrants I6 and 2li and the clamp are substantially in place, whereupon the sections I5 and I9 may be put in place by assembling the hinges.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A table or the like comprising a pair of diametrically disposed quadrants hinged together with the centers along the line transverse to the common diagonal center line of the quadrants and a pair of secondary quadrants disposed diametrically from each other and between said rst mentioned quadrants, each being hinged at one side to one of said first mentioned quadrants and having means at its other side to engage the other of said rst mentioned quadrants to insure that all of said quadrants will lie in a common plane, the axis of the hinges between the oppositely disposed quadrants being substantially above the level of the table, the axis of the hinges between the adjacent quadrants being substan tially in the upper face of the table.

2,. A table or the like comprising a pair of semicircular, annular hub members hinged together, a quadrant attached to each of said hub members having its center line transverse to the fold line of said hinges, a pair of secondary quadrants diametrically disposed from each other and between said first mentioned quadrants, each of said secondary quadrants being hinged to one side of one of said first mentioned quadrants and being constructed and arranged at its other side to engage the other side of said rst mentioned quadrants to insure that all of said quadrants will lie in a common plane.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 having a clamping member horizontally, slidably mounted on one of said hub sections to and from the other, said clamping member having means for engaging the other side of a post within the central opening of said hub section and means for sliding said clamping member `to cause it to engage a post and to clamp the same against the hub member on which the clamping member slides, said clamping member being constructed and arranged to extend beyond the section to which it is attached and being provided with a handle in said extended portion, whereby when the table is folded up said handle will be in a position to carry the device.

KENNETH W. ROMEYN. 

